Court makes final ruling on whether Kilifi DG willfully infected Kenyans with Covid-19

April 8, 2021 5:44 PM

Case decided 1 year after incident

Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi to spend 3 more nights in police custody

Mombasa Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti on Thursday gave the final ruling in a suit against Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi.

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Saburi was arrested and charged with offences under section 28 (a) of the public health Act cap 242 laws of Kenya in March 2020.

The DG had traveled to Berlin and returned to the country at a time when quarantine was mandatory for those having returned from trips abroad as a containment measure against Covid-19.

"Gideon Saburi... While suffering from an infectious disease, namely COVID-19, wilfully and unlawfully, without taking any precaution, exposed yourself to the public," the charge sheet against the DG read.

Magistrate Nyaloti acquitted Mr Saburi of the charges noting that it was not intentional on the DG's part.

The Magistrate noted that Covid-19 had not been declared a contagious disease at the time.